Saudi Arabia delivers unexpected blow to Israel in FlyDubai affair

Saudi Arabia has launched an official investigation into the incident involving FlyDubai flight FZ1073, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. Israel has not yet received an invitation to join the probe, although most passengers were Israelis. Ofer Vaknin, director of the Aviation Safety Investigation Authority, contacted the Saudi side but has received no response.

Saudi Arabia has initiated an official investigation into the aviation incident involving FlyDubai flight FZ1073, which was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing in Tabuk. Israel, whose citizens made up the majority of passengers, has not yet been invited to participate in the probe. Ofer Vaknin, director of the Aviation Safety Investigation Authority, contacted the Saudi side but received no response. The investigation is being conducted by the Saudi National Center for Transport Safety (NTSC). The United States will be represented by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) because the Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was manufactured by an American company; the UAE will also participate as the country of the carrier's registration. Saudi experts will focus on the aircraft's behavior and cockpit actions, particularly the sharp dive during which the plane lost thousands of meters of altitude. Key information may come from the flight recorders. Separately, UAE authorities are conducting a criminal investigation into the actions of the first officer, Hamam al-Hammami.